"My worst marathon experience: running for 5 hours 20 minutes in 40mph head winds and torrential rain. For months, automated car washes and lawn sprinklers brought frightening flashbacks. The following year, I broke the 5 hr mark and have been marathon free (but still very much a runner) ever since."
J. Race

"I’m so excited to hear you ran a marathon! I’ve wanted to run one for 20+ years. This summer I actually took a running class at the junior college. I got an A in the class, but that’s only cause I showed up for every class no matter how hot it was. I managed to improve from where I started. I went from walking only to jogging an eighth of a lap. I still don’t have the proper attire. I can’t bear the laugher from the sales people at Fleet Feet. "
-R. Stearns

"Once, I walked 15 miles…intentionally. I chaffed my thunder thighs AND my bye-bye arms. Severely. Several beers and dollops of “bag balm” later I forgot the curses and vows at mile 12 to never again intentionally walk unassisted. I have been trying to run a marathon since I was 16 years old. I’m trying still, but cannot manage anything greater than seven or eight miles before my body begins a systematic meltdown of painful and sometimes humiliating consequence. But still, I jog. I’ll spare you the awful details of gravity, the bladder, and aging athletes and simply wish you every success. "
-S. Gill

"I ran with Team in Training for Leukemia in 200 at the San Diego Rock N Roll marathon. It was freaking hot, no fog (keep in mind my training runs were along the coast of Santa Cruz), it took about an hour longer than I anticipated, and was by far the dumbest thing I ever did. That being said I’m glad I did it, glad I finished, but to this day I hate running. I’d like to do it again just to better my time, but I have to get over my newfound laziness and desire to keep my toenails intact."
-J. Reppas

"What intrigues you more, the singing of Christmas carols in the middle of June to keep from crying during that marathon from hell or catching a naked guy pleasuring himself while running on a San Jose levee? There is always my infamous advice on NOT taking along cab fare to avoid being tempted to bail on long runs, and a good one for group running... the no-whine-zone with $penalty."
-Julie

Got a running story you want to share? E-mail me: dawn@nonrunnersmarathontraining.com.